Officials turn dirt on the Marjaree Mason Center's future home in Fresno. Linder is fourth from the right. Photo contributed

The Marjaree Mason Center broke ground Wednesday on its new campus – the Isnardi Foundation Community Resource Center – which will double the current facility’s capacity for non-residential services provided to survivors of domestic violence in Fresno County.

The 37,680 square-foot center will include a 24/7 crisis response service hotline as well as a drop-in center. It will provide services for both children and adults, including a dedicated children’s enrichment center, art therapy room, housing and job support along with other services.

It should be open by December.

The property was most recently home to Milan Institute, which closed in 2020. Previously, the building served as home to Heald College, New Life Christian School and Queen of the Valley Catholic Girls School.

Over the past two years, fundraising and planning has taken place with city officials, partners with Pace Management and Paul Halajian Architects and BMY Construction.

BMY Construction was selected as the contractor last October.

“Of the ten most populated counties in the State of California, Fresno has the highest per capita calls to law enforcement for domestic violence, according to the California Department of Justice,” a news release Wednesday reads. “The Marjaree Mason Center remains Fresno County’s only dedicated provider of domestic violence and supportive services.”

The center will aim to meet three critical needs identified by the Marjaree Mason Center, including the growth of services, a geographically accessible and safe location and consolidation of services under one roof.

In total, 14 rooms have been named through donation pledges in the new resource center. Naming opportunities are still available in honor of donations and pledges ranging from $50,000 for individual rooms to $10 million for the full campus. A permanent donor wall inside the building will also feature all donations of $10,000 or more.

Since 1979, the Marjaree Mason Center has provided support, housing and services to adults and children affected by domestic violence in Fresno County. The center continues to serve as Fresno County’s only dedicated provider of supportive services for victims of domestic violence.

More information about the Marjaree Mason Center can be found on their website or by calling the business center at (559) 237-4706. For emergency assistance, the 24-hour confidential hotline can be reached at (559) 233-HELP (4357), or help@mmcenter.org.